Today President Obama called for an expansion of Human Rights worldwide. This is certainly needed. It is needed right in the USA, today, on our playing fields, from professional to the youngest children's games to the senior teams: NO use of Native American names, mascots or trademarks by teams not owned and operated by Native American tribes. This would be Human Rights for all Americans.

Today the Fritz Pollard Alliance, a prominent civil rights organization specifically focused on racism in the NFL, joined the calls for the Washington, D.C. NFL team to change its name.
Mr. Pollard became Coach Pollard in a history worth knowing on Martin Luther King Day 2015. I applaud the Alliance for taking this strong stand and join, as a white American woman in their call to the teams, the players, the coaches, the staffs and the owners to make this change. It is long overdue. Racism affects every person on this planet. For our sports teams to pass demeaning racist stereotypes deliberately and knowingly along to our children and the world as a whole is a shameful disgrace.

It is terrible to see tax dollars still supporting racism but it is true. Should the tax exempt status of the NFL offices be dropped the teams and league still have billions of dollars of income at their disposal to continue profitting from racism.
This is not only about Native Americans, it is about how each and every American wants to see America as a country and us as a people with a shared history move into the future. The way teams are identified in sports continues teaching everyone stereotypes, sometimes at the youngest ages of childhood. We can and must do better.

In Minneapolis thousands of people came to protest the racist team name of the Washington D.C. NFL team when it played the Vikings. All Americans know history is in the past. This event is over. How many more must there be in our future?

Americans are better than the team, the identity and the racism. Send in your suggestions for new team names. Do not support the team or the league or those who sponsor them. The owners are businessmen. Show them we understand business. Get their attention. When their profits fall, so will the team names and identities.

Take a good look at this 1950's NFL team pennent. Mr. Snyder, are you still claiming this has always been to "honor" Native Americans? If you are, look again. Now do you see anything racist? If not show this to an expert on subconscious messaging:

If you wonder about a wealthy man, Dan Snyder who may be a bit ill-informed, consider the upcoming NFL game this weekend involving his Washington, D.C. team and the Vikings in this light: Does the team name compare to other negative profane and banned racist words?
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YXZeELeE7cc[/embed]

The Red****s issue in heating up and the same needs to happen for all Native Aerican team identities.

Here's a definition of racism I'm guessing most don't understand: Judging a group of people identified by race from a position of power. The "from a position of power" means only white people in America can be racist since overall it is white people in positions of power throughout America, in law, in society, in business and in politics.

When not white people judge white people negatively it is then called prejudice. Racism in this definition fits in the team discussions because the team owners of the Native American identified teams are wealthy, white and male--obviously each a position of power and when combined perhaps the most complete position of power in America today.

Cleveland fans--it is the 21st century, it is time to move away from both the MLB name and logo. Do the right thing finally. This is not some sort of PC issue, it is about real America, respect and decency for everyone and yes, rule of law. Once you know a fuller history of America turning people who were proud warriors, our ancestors' allies often, our ancestors' enemies occasionally and generally our neighbors today into cartdoon trivialities is just plain wrong.